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Friday, December 11, 2009
Environment - The other side of CAFO manure spills and run-off
Cattlenetwork has this long story today, titled "Delayed Harvest Has Producers Scrambling To Apply Manure," that begins:
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The wet Midwestern fall and delayed harvest has left many producers scrambling to apply manure and empty manure storage facilities before the ground freezes."The best time to apply postharvest manure is after the soil temperature cools down, and ideally when soils are dry," said Tamilee Nennich, Purdue Extension dairy management specialist. "Once we start having freezing soils and snow cover, application of manure needs to stop because of the greater potential for manure run-off. During this time it can be especially risky."
Even before soils freeze, there are still risks with fall manure application - especially when there is excessive soil moisture.
"The biggest concern about applying manure in the fall is wet soils," Nennich said. "We want to make sure that manure, and especially the nutrients in the manure, stay in the soil."
Because this fall has been so wet, Nennich said field selection is key when producers look to apply manure.
"It's made it really challenging for producers to get out in the fields and to actually find dry enough fields and the time to be able to apply the manure," she said. "Producers should apply manure in the fields that are the driest and have the best drainage. They need to make sure not to apply manure to fields with an abundance of wet spots or where runoff is more prevalent."
Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 11, 2009 11:54 AM
Posted to Environment